I'm using .040" thick styrene for my small town streets.
Given that the tops of sidewalks and curbs sit just about 5" (.06 HO scale inches) above street level, what are some methods and materials others have used to achieve a realistic elevation without utilizing ready-made kits?
A double layer of styrene, Sculptamold or a similar plaster material, for example, come to mind. Other suggestions?
Styrene is actually a pretty good choice for sidewalks.
I'm a big fan of Sculptamold, but it's hard to get it laid evenly enough to be convincing in a application like this. At least it is for me, but some thought and effort may yield better results than mine. And I use Sculptamold in preference to plaster due to the mess associated with it.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
This depends upon your state.
In Pennsylvania, new curb height is supposed to be 8" to allow for future resurfacing, at which point it is supposed to only get reduced to 6" curb reveal above pavement.
In some states new curb is designed to be 9" height, but it doesn't get much higher without negatively affecting the ability to open a car door.
Sidewalks generally slope at 2.0% toward the curb.
Standard roadway travel lanes are generally 2.0% cross slope. Shoulders in curbed areas are generally 4.0% cross slope.
Where you see curbs with nearly zero curb reveal it is a product of two things: multiple roadway resurfacings over many years, and sometimes settlement due to frost action, but it's mainly the multiple pavement overlays. If a contractor is paid to place asphalt leveling course in tons, or wearing course in tons, they always tend to use MORE than they should, to maximize their fee. That results in burying the curb.
Paying for pavement in square yards helps to prevent excessive placement of asphalt, but is harder to quantify (inspectors have to actually do some math to calculate the geometric shapes instead of merely taking truck delivery tickets in tons), and then typically they do some pavement cores to make sure the contractor is placing enough asphalt. This maintains better curb reveal. Also they try to mill along the curb so that it doesn't get buried over time.
John
I normally use Chipboard for sidewalks and structure interior walls. You can get it in .022”, .030”, .040”, .050” and .060” thickness. I buy the .022” in bulk as I use it the most and stock several sheets of .05” for making forms.I don’t use Styrene for things that need painting like a sidewalk mainly because finishing Styrene just isn’t my thing, it always looks toy like when I try it.
I can do pretty good with Acrylic paint on chipboard.Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
PVC board ('Sintra') is an option, it has a bit of texture and being softer than styrene takes well to scribing and embossing. My 2mm 'Sintra' sidewalks make for a nearly 7" curb in HO scale.
Regards, Peter
I use .060" sheet styrene (available in 4'x8' sheets) for sidewalks...
It's close to the protoype's typical thickness, and is easily scribed using your X-Acto knife, including cracks if you wish...
Wayne
RR_Mel I normally use Chipboard for sidewalks and structure interior walls. You can get it in .022”, .030”, .040”, .050” and .060” thickness. I buy the .022” in bulk as I use it the most and stock several sheets of .05” for making forms.I don’t use Styrene for things that need painting like a sidewalk mainly because finishing Styrene just isn’t my thing, it always looks toy like when I try it. I can do pretty good with Acrylic paint on chipboard.Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Mel,
Chipboard is a name I'm not familiar with. Where is it sold?
HO-Velo PVC board ('Sintra') is an option, it has a bit of texture and being softer than styrene takes well to scribing and embossing. My 2mm 'Sintra' sidewalks make for a nearly 7" curb in HO scale. Regards, Peter
Peter,
Where did you get it in that thickness (2 mm/.08")? Neither Home Depot nor Lowe's seems to carry it.